Secure Rides
Sep 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Bret E. Brooks
Physical security programs can detect, deter, delay and diminish the effects of safety- and security-related issues.
A school looking to improve perimeter security may consider a privacy fence. Privacy fences may be made of wood, metal or some other type of material that prevents someone on the outside from looking in. Adding visibility-reducing material to chain-link fencing is another cost-effective security upgrade. This mesh-like material will prevent people from seeing into the parking lot.
The area around a facility's perimeter must be kept clear of obstacles and hazards. Outside trees should be trimmed so limbs do not obstruct views. Bushes and shrubs should be trimmed so a person cannot use them as a hiding place. Do not have trees growing next to a fence, as intruders can use trees near perimeter fencing to climb over. Simple landscaping changes may improve security.
Cameras work both as a deterrent and as an investigative tool should an incident occur. Many inexpensive camera and digital recording systems are available. Schools using security cameras should make sure the images are recorded and maintained for at least a couple of months. Cameras require light to work properly; sufficient visible light or properly installed infrared light is essential. The better the light source, the better the images will be.
A security consultant can provide education institutions with an assessment of which security methods are working, which are ineffective, where budget resources should be focused, and where money can be saved. Schools should seek unbiased and professional outside sources for their security assessments.
Brooks is a state police officer, state SWAT team sniper and captain in the U.S. Army. He is a senior instructor with Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, Higginsville, Mo., a consulting and training firm that works with school faculty and bus drivers on crisis-management. He can be reached at bretbrooks@grayramtacticaltraining.com.
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